LocationsUNDP Albania
Piloting Direct Seeding with Aerial Drones: A New Hope for Forests
April 16, 2025
In the rugged hills of Korca where scars of past deforestation still mar the landscape, a small project is leaving its mark. Decades of unsustainable forestry practices and the chaotic lawlessness that followed the regime change in the 1990s left vast swaths of forest burned or felled.
UNDP Albania
In the rugged hills of Korca where scars of past deforestation still mar the landscape, a small project is leaving its mark. Decades of unsustainable forestry practices and the chaotic lawlessness that followed the regime change in the 1990s left vast swaths of forest burned or felled.
But today, innovative efforts are breathing life back into these degraded lands. One such project, supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), is harnessing technology—drones—to pilot direct seeding in forest fire restoration.
“Spanning 200 hectares, this project has not only tested a low-cost reforestation technique but also instilled hope among local communities eager to reclaim their natural heritage”-says Arjan Gace Project Manager.
The project, led by a grassroots civil society organization in Korca emerged against a backdrop of opportunity. A 2020 moratorium on commercial logging, coupled with rural-to-urban migration, eased pressure on Albania’s remaining forests, creating a window for restoration. Yet, national reforestation efforts have been hampered by a lack of long-term funding and scientific groundwork.
“The government’s commitment is there in spirit, but without a decade-long plan and budget, it’s hard for private players to step in,” explains Petrika Theodhori a forestry expert involved in the project. This is where small-scale, community-driven initiatives like this one shine—demonstrating scalable solutions that could one day inform a broader strategy.
The objective of this project was ambitious yet practical: test the use of aerial drones to spread seeds over fire-ravaged land, comparing two methods—seeds encapsulated in biodegradable, nutrient-rich coatings versus uncoated seeds. Intelligent drones, programmed to follow precise tracks, buzzed over Krushova project area, dropping their payloads with surgical accuracy. Before the seeding began, multispectral cameras mapped the terrain, identifying patches of surviving vegetation.
The objective of this project was ambitious yet practical: test the use of aerial drones to spread seeds over fire-ravaged land, comparing two methods—seeds encapsulated in biodegradable, nutrient-rich coatings versus uncoated seeds. Intelligent drones, programmed to follow precise tracks, buzzed over Krushova project area, dropping their payloads with surgical accuracy.
UNDP Albania
Local volunteers collected and prepared seeds, filled biodegradable capsules, and engaged students and community members through workshops. Over 12 months, the team monitored the site, aiming for a seedling survival rate exceeding 50% in the first year.
Local volunteers collected and prepared seeds, filled biodegradable capsules, and engaged students and community members through workshops.
UNDP Albania
For Ereandra Robo a 42-year-old mother and volunteer, the project was a chance to heal both the land and her community’s spirit. “I grew up surrounded by forests, but my children only know stories of what used to be,” she says, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
“When I saw the drones flying overhead, dropping seeds like little promises, I felt we were finally doing something real. It’s not just about trees—it’s about giving our kids a future with green hills again.” She spent days collecting seeds with her neighbors, marveling at how a simple act could connect her to a high-tech solution.
The results, while mixed, are promising. In some areas, tender green shoots now dot the soil, defying the harsh sun of Albania’s dry summers. In others, survival rates lagged, a reminder of nature’s unpredictability—low seed production years and scorching heat posed challenges no drone could outmaneuver. Still, the project’s success lies in its proof of concept.
“We’ve shown that drone seeding can work alongside traditional methods,” says Ervin Toromani, the Dean of Forestry Faculty of the Agriculture University of Kamza. It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a tool we can refine and scale.”
For 17-year-old Nikola Mico a student who joined the project the experience was transformative.
“I’d never thought about forests much before—city life feels so far from all this,” he admits with a grin. “But helping load the drones and watching them fly felt like being part of something big. It’s cool to think I helped plant a forest my generation might actually get to walk through.”
Local volunteers collected and prepared seeds, filled biodegradable capsules, and engaged students and community members through workshops.
UNDP Albania
He was among tens and tens of students who attended the project’s awareness sessions, where he learned about ecosystems and climate resilience—lessons he now shares with friends.
The project’s community engagement was as vital as its technology. Informative workshops with students and meetings with locals fostered a sense of ownership.
“People here want to help, but they need to see it’s possible,” says 55-year-old Ilia Shumka, a farmer who lent his knowledge of the land to the effort.
“When we mapped the area and picked the seeds ourselves, it wasn’t just some outsiders coming in—it was ours. Seeing those first seedlings pop up? That’s pride you can’t buy.” Veli Xhixho’s weathered hands worked alongside younger volunteers, bridging generations in a shared mission.
Though the SGP funding has ended, the civil society organization behind the project hasn’t stopped. This year, they’ve continued drone seeding, building on lessons learned. The technique’s potential is clear: it’s fast, covers difficult terrain, and cuts costs compared to manual planting.
Yet challenges remain. “We need more data—longer monitoring, better seed coatings, and weather cooperation,” notes Ing. Elson Salihaj who covered most of the technical aspects of the project from the very beginning. “Nature doesn’t always follow our timelines.”
“At its core, this project is strong evidence of what is possible. It demonstrates how innovation, paired with grassroots enthusiasm and activism, can tackle environmental crises even when national efforts falter”-says Arian Gace.
For Albania, where reforestation demands a sustained, science-backed push, this small-scale success offers a blueprint. “It’s a model that could grow,” says Pajo Bebri, the helping hand of the project in Voskopoja, gazing at a hillside speckled with new life. “If we keep at it, maybe one day these drones will seed forests across the country.”
As the sun sets over the project site, the hum of drones has faded, but the seeds they’ve sown—both literal and figurative—continue to take root.
In a land once stripped bare, hope is sprouting.
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This is only one among 270 projects funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme.
The programme works to provide financial and technical support to local civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), to develop and implement innovative local actions that address global environmental issues, while also improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.